What They're Saying About Marco Rubio at the #GOPDebate in Cleveland, Ohio on August 6, 2015

What They're Saying About Marco Rubio at the #GOPDebate in Cleveland, Ohio on August 6, 2015

FOX News’ Chris Wallace: “In terms of winners, Marco Rubio did very well.” (FOX, 8/6/15)

Charles Krauthammer: “That [clip] you showed of Rubio, I thought, was the best expression of his campaign, and was the best way to take on Hillary.” (FOX, 8/6/15)

MSNBC’s Chuck Todd: “You talk to Democrats and they are concerned about [Rubio] because Rubio presents that generation contrast.” (MSNBC, 8/6/15)

MSNBC’s Chuck Todd: Rubio is “a dangerous opponent for Hillary Clinton.” “Are we really going to go backwards in generations or do we go forward to GenX, which is Rubio. Which as Americans. we usually want to move forward. That's what makes him a dangerous opponent for Hillary Clinton.” (MSNBC, 8/6/15)

American Conservative Union’s Matt Schlapp: I think Marco Rubio scared [Hillary Clinton].” Chris Matthews: “Put yourself into the body and mind of Hillary Clinton right now. Who scared her?” ACU’s Matt Schlapp: “Who scared her? … I think Marco Rubio scared her. I think that he, in so many ways, resembles the kind of opponent she fears.” (MSNBC, 8/6/15)

Fox News reports that Marco Rubio had the best individual performance. "The best individual performance was that of Marco Rubio, whose high-energy delivery, one-liners and policy riffs will undoubtedly win back some of the supporters who have drifted from his column of late." (Fox News First, 08/07/15)

The National Journal reports that Marco Rubio underscored why he would be a strong opponent to Hillary Clinton and that he was one of the winners that emerged from the debate. “Of the three candidates most likely to win the nomination—Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, and Scott Walker—the senator from Florida had the best night. He seemed to grow in confidence as the debate wore on, culminating in a rousing speech explaining his opposition to abortion rights. More than anything else, however, he underscored again and again why he would be a strong opponent against Clinton. ‘If I'm our nominee, how is Hillary Clinton going to lecture me about living paycheck to paycheck?" Rubio asked. "I was raised paycheck to paycheck. How is she going to lecture me about student loans? I owed over $100,000 just four years ago.’” (Winners: Trump, Kasich, Rubio, The National Journal, 08/05/15)

The Washington Examiner reports that Marco Rubio had some of the best lines of the night and that he won the debate. “Rubio's responses were well-reasoned and pointed, he also had some of the best lines of the night. His comment about Hillary Clinton not being able to lecture him about living paycheck-to-paycheck when that's how he was raised was poignant and allowed him to remind the audience of his compelling life story. His comments about immigration included simple facts about the nature of who is coming to this country and the reality of the current visa program.” (Marco Rubio won the main debate, but Carly Fiorina won both, The Washington Examiner, 08/06/13)

The Washington Free Beacon reports that Marco Rubio won the first debate. “Marco Rubio won the first GOP presidential debate on Thursday night. … He made the most of each question, demonstrating not only a grasp of detail but also an ability to deliver his views cogently and succinctly.” (Rubio Wins, The Washington Free Beacon, 08/06/15)
The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza: “The Florida Senator … was terrific on Thursday night.” (Winners and losers from the first Republican presidential debate, The Washington Post, 08/06/15)

The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza: “He was poised, on message and seemingly entirely at ease.” (Winners and losers from the first Republican presidential debate, The Washington Post, 08/06/15)

MSNBC’s Chuck Todd: Marco’s “skills as a communicator came out tonight very strong.” (MSNBC, 8/6/15)

MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell: “I think Marco Rubio has done really well. He has been smart and concise and strong.” (MSNBC, 8/6/15)

The Guardian’s Sabrina Siddiqui: Marco Rubio was “an early winner”.  “Marco Rubio, on the other hand, seems to have come out as an early winner based on the initial reaction. He stuck a lot more to policy when he was offered a chance to engage with Trump on immigration, he passed on it, except for pointing out that Trump donated to everyone but him and to his opponent instead Charlie Crist in the Florida Senate race. He really didn't seem to acknowledge him. He seemed to focus more on the policy issues at hand. That made him seem more statesman like. A lot of early reaction seems to imply that Marco Rubio gained a lot from the first debate.” (MSNBC, 8/6/15)

TWEETS …
Politico’s Ben White: Winner of tonight's debate: Rubio. Strong, consistent, detailed, optimistic. Real winner: America for getting to watch Trump-sanity. (Twitter, 8/6/15)

The Daily Caller’s Matt Lewis: “Rubio hitting his message about generational change hard.” (Twitter, 8/6/15)

The Reno Gazette Journal‎’s Jon Ralston: “Rubio is hitting home runs.” (Twitter, 8/6/15)

The Washington Free Beacon’s Matthew Continetti: My post on the debate: Rubio wins. (Twitter, 8/6/15)

Politico's Marc Caputo: “Marco Rubio closes the way he opened: strong, getting applause.” (Twitter, 8/6/15)

The Weekly Standard's Steve Hayes: “Rubio's answer to the question combing God & veterans was masterful. Answered the Q, took a red-meat shot at Dems, addressed veterans.” (Twitter, 8/6/15)

Susan B. Anthony’s Mallory Quigley: “.@marcorubio slams it out of the park on #prolife question! History will look back and judge how we treat the unborn. #GOPDebate” (Twitter, 8/6/15)

Vox's Ezra Klein: “Rubio is better at delivering his story than any other GOPer and better at selling Republican policies than any other GOPer.” (Twitter, 8/6/15)

• Klein: “Rubio just sounds much surer-footed on policy than the others on the stage.” (Twitter, 8/6/15)
The Associated Press' Steve Peoples: “And enter Rubio, sounding like the adult in the room after the Trump-Paul squabble.” (Twitter, 8/6/15)

S.E. Cupp: “Finally. Rubio shows at least one person up there can look presidential.”(Twitter, 8/6/15)
Republican Strategist Rory Cooper: “Rubio doing more with his time than any other candidate...on every answer.” (Twitter, 8/16/15)